Why Hear For You?
Hear For You is a place like no other – it’s a place where young deaf people can hang out amongst other deaf peers, have lots of fun and make lots of friends. As young deaf adults, we understand the challenges that young deaf people can experience.
We have developed workshops where we bring groups of teenagers with varying levels of hearing loss together to realise that deafness is more a “difference” than a disadvantage. We aim to show these teenagers that they are not alone, to inspire them, and to share hints and tips on how to deal with all the obstacles that come with being deaf.
Our mission is to work as role models, giving young people someone to share their experiences with, even when it feels like no one else understands. Our mentors are here to help them get the best out of their hearing loss, to realise their dreams and live life to the full. We’re here to help and that’s why we’re Hear For You!
Background Information
Hear For You is a non-profit organisation which runs workshops aimed at assisting young deaf people, aged 11-18, to integrate more effectively into the hearing world.
The workshops, run by young, successful mentors who have grown up with the experience of deafness, is intended to provide a support network for young deaf people and an opportunity for them to meet other peers of a similar age. More than 83% of deaf children and adolescents attend mainstream schools where the student is often the sole hearing impaired student in the class, or even at the school.
Our workshops aim to help improve the confidence of these teenagers and help them to develop better social, communication and leadership skills.
Hear For You was founded by 28-year-old Olivia Andersen (nee Gemmell) who has profound hearing loss. Her own real-life experience gives her the ability to understand the issues associated with deafness. It adds an extra dimension that makes Hear For You accessible to young deaf people.
The program draws on Olivia’s Churchill Fellowship experience from existing mentoring and leadership programs for young deaf people who use spoken language in the USA, United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
The Hear For You mentors have been involved with mentoring young deaf people in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, a number of whom experience significant challenges in social and work situations.
Our office is located at Inspire Foundation, Sydney. Hear For You has the goal of replication across the major capital cities in Australia within three years.
For reference, testimonials from deafness-related organisations, parents and hearing impaired teenagers have been provided.
